Coronavirus: Emirates and Etihad cancel flights for two weeks from Wednesday

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Following an order from the UAE government, the giant Dubai-based airline now says it will ground all passenger flights from Wednesday 25 March – initially for two weeks – in a bid to limit the spread of Covid-19. But two hours later, the airline said: “Having received requests from governments and customers to support repatriation of travellers, Emirates will continue to operate passenger and cargo flights to few countries until further notice, as long as borders remain open, and there is demand.” Now the UAE government has banned all passenger flights for a spell of two weeks. A statement on the Emirates website said: “As per the UAE government’s directive, Emirates will temporarily suspend all passenger services for two weeks starting from 25 March. Passengers are being told: “You don’t currently need to call us to cancel your booking as we will not charge no-show fees.” The airline is offering vouchers for future travel rather than cash refunds – even though European air passengers’ rights rules insists that travellers whose journey begins in the EU or UK should get their money back.